Smoking can be done on most barbecues if you know what you are doing, but pellet and charcoal grills are notoriously used for this purpose. If you have a smoker, it is just that much simpler. The ultimate question is, what should you smoke? Sure, there are traditional smoked items like turkey or fish. If you want to get a little creative, try these alternatives.
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Cheese
If you love cheese and haven’t tried smoked cheese, you haven’t completely experienced cheese. I know it’s hard to believe, especially if you are a cheese connoisseur, but smoked cheese is a whole new level of cheese appreciation. Smoking cheese involves a process called cold smoking. Cold smoking is different than hot smoking, and it is the reason the cheese doesn’t melt. Some cold smokers sit outside of the smoker or barbecue and simply blow smoke into the vessel while keeping the heat on the outside. If you are smoking on a warm day you may have to place the cheese over a tray of ice. You don’t have to do much to smoke cheese, and it only takes an hour or two to get a good smoke. Then, it needs to age for a few weeks. The difference between cheese that has been aged and cheese fresh off the smoker is huge. It is tempting to eat it before 3 weeks, but don’t do it!
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Cheez Its
Smoking these cheesy crackers is taking the internet by storm. It only takes 30 to 35 minutes, and these crackers are mouth-watering delicious! Spray them with cooking spray, apply light seasoning to one side, and you are going to have the tastiest new trend in snacking.
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Eggs
Eggs are another cold smoke food because hot smoking them causes them to become rubbery and hard. However, once that smoke penetrates the eggs, they are divine when added to an egg salad sandwich. You want to smoke the eggs until they are just a little bit brown, but don’t smoke them too long. This should take a couple hours.
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Olives
There are many recipes available on the internet for smoked olives, but let’s just say they are the perfect addition to a Bloody Mary or a ham sandwich. They also only take about a half hour of smoke! This is worth at least a try…unless you aren’t the olive type.
Smoking Food is Fun!
Don’t be afraid to try other foods out in your smoker. Smoked fruits are very complementary to protein dishes, and cold-smoked nuts are a tasty treat. There are many good recipes out there for both hot and cold smoking, so don’t be afraid to venture into the world of unusual but delicious smoked foods.
